Again, where does the right thing stop? Are they going to go to every planet outside of the Republic and free slaves? It's the right thing, right? Do it for one, do it for all.

Couldn't it just be the case that that wasn't the story that we were to be told, but rather the story of Anakin Skywalker? Having a big sideplot of saving Shmi would detract from the story, anyway. I don't see why it's at any point of a discussion. It really is a non-issue.

They got their chosen one, to hell with her! No wonder he slaughters them.

You forget the Naboo. He saved their planet and they did nothing for the boy's mother. Long before anyone can rake the Jedi Order, every sentient that calls Naboo their home, should visit the coals first.

They got their chosen one, to hell with her! No wonder he slaughters them.

You forget the Naboo. He saved their planet and they did nothing for the boy's mother. Long before anyone can rake the Jedi Order, every sentient that calls Naboo their home, should visit the coals first.

It isn't a plot hole as much as it is a missed opportunity for a good plot point. It seems to me like the Jedi didn't do anything about it for two reasons:
1. They didn't want to mess with things outside of their jurisdiction.
2. They wanted Anakin to let go of his attachments.

Does this mean that they are rigid, cold-hearted douche bags? To a certain extent, yes. You might say that they're intentions are ultimately good, but the way they go about this is hardly the preferable one. Anakin came to them with a strong attachment to his mother, who lives as a slave outside of the Republic, yet they treat him like they would any other padawan. They just cut him off from his old life because that's what they always do. They don't adapt to the special circumstances surrounding Anakin. Instead, they just try to make him fit into their old, rigid way of doing things.
Anakin, in turn, seemingly accepts this. He could just flip 'em the bird and head back to free Shmi, but he chooses to stay with Obi-Wan. Why? My guess would be that he's too anxious to become a Jedi to give up on that dream. He is a bit greedy, after all.
Whether or not that's true, though, there should be some level of resentment towards Obi-Wan and the rest of the Jedi because of this - and I think there is, be it conscious or subconscious. GL just didn't address the issue and that's a shame.

Regarding Padmé's seeming indifference: She likely either assumed that the Jedi would take care of it or just chose to respect their methods of teaching.
That's also something that could easily have been mentioned without changing the story one bit. Thus, it's not a plot hole.

The whole Tatooine being part of the Hutt empire is a plot hole actually... think of it: The only Hutt in all six movies (Tatooine is featured in all of them) that we ever see is Jabba (with a "cameo" of another Hutt behind him in TPM during the Pod race). And yet, we are supposed to believe that Tattooine belongs to them (why would the population accept a ruler who isn't even their own species?). Jabba is like the king of the planet but he is also a gangster and it's only expected that he has plenty of enemies. His only power comes from a few inept Gamorrean guards and a band of mercenaries who could easily turn on him if someone else put a price on his head yet somehow that never happened. The whole gang infiltrated his palace trying to rescue Han which shows how easy of a target for his enemies he was. We never see a Hutt space patrol ship either. Spaceships come and go as they please and the empire conducted a raid on the planet without their permission.. That the Old Republic respected the sovereignty of the Hutts despite their ruthlessness and vulnerability seems illogical to me. It would be akin to the UN having allowed Saddam Hussein to remain in power.

The whole Tatooine being part of the Hutt empire is a plot hole actually... think of it: The only Hutt in all six movies (Tatooine is featured in all of them) that we ever see is Jabba (with a "cameo" of another Hutt behind him in TPM during the Pod race). And yet, we are supposed to believe that Tattooine belongs to them. Jabba is like the king of the planet but he is also a gangster and it's only expected that he has plenty of enemies. His only power comes from a few inept Gamorrean guards and a band of mercenaries who could easily turn on him if someone else put a price on his head yet somehow that never happened. The whole gang infiltrated his palace trying to rescue Han which shows how easy of a target for his enemies he was. We never see a Hutt space patrol ship either. Spaceships come and go as they please and the empire conducted a raid on the planet without their permission.. That the Old Republic respected the sovereignty of the Hutts despite their ruthlessness and vulnerability seems illogical to me. It would be akin to the UN having allowed Saddam Hussein to remain in power.

They own it in the way a mob boss owns a city. It's lawlessness, and the Hutt's are like the mob

The whole Tatooine being part of the Hutt empire is a plot hole actually... think of it: The only Hutt in all six movies (Tatooine is featured in all of them) that we ever see is Jabba (with a "cameo" of another Hutt behind him in TPM during the Pod race). And yet, we are supposed to believe that Tattooine belongs to them. Jabba is like the king of the planet but he is also a gangster and it's only expected that he has plenty of enemies. His only power comes from a few inept Gamorrean guards and a band of mercenaries who could easily turn on him if someone else put a price on his head yet somehow that never happened. The whole gang infiltrated his palace trying to rescue Han which shows how easy of a target for his enemies he was. We never see a Hutt space patrol ship either. Spaceships come and go as they please and the empire conducted a raid on the planet without their permission.. That the Old Republic respected the sovereignty of the Hutts despite their ruthlessness and vulnerability seems illogical to me. It would be akin to the UN having allowed Saddam Hussein to remain in power.

They own it in the way a mob boss owns a city. It's lawlessness, and the Hutt's are like the mob

Not exactly lawlessness... they have their laws.. it is by law that slavery is legal, that they have their own currency, etc. The Hutts are the rulers of the planet, that's why there is a civilization there and not absolute chaos and permanent civil war. However they are ruthless which is why the Old Republic and particularly, the Jedi should have had no moral problem with taking one slave by force... or more.

The whole Tatooine being part of the Hutt empire is a plot hole actually... think of it: The only Hutt in all six movies (Tatooine is featured in all of them) that we ever see is Jabba (with a "cameo" of another Hutt behind him in TPM during the Pod race). And yet, we are supposed to believe that Tattooine belongs to them. Jabba is like the king of the planet but he is also a gangster and it's only expected that he has plenty of enemies. His only power comes from a few inept Gamorrean guards and a band of mercenaries who could easily turn on him if someone else put a price on his head yet somehow that never happened. The whole gang infiltrated his palace trying to rescue Han which shows how easy of a target for his enemies he was. We never see a Hutt space patrol ship either. Spaceships come and go as they please and the empire conducted a raid on the planet without their permission.. That the Old Republic respected the sovereignty of the Hutts despite their ruthlessness and vulnerability seems illogical to me. It would be akin to the UN having allowed Saddam Hussein to remain in power.

They own it in the way a mob boss owns a city. It's lawlessness, and the Hutt's are like the mob

Not exactly lawlessness... they have their laws.. it is by law that slavery is legal, that they have their own currency, etc. The Hutts are the rulers of the planet, that's why there is a civilization there and not absolute chaos and permanent civil war. However they are ruthless which is why the Old Republic and particularly, the Jedi should have had no moral problem with taking one slave by force... or more.

Most references in the films to the Hutt's rule is that they are gangsters. Which would make what I said correct. The mob has rules, John Gotti had rules. That doesn't make them legitimate

They were legitimate enough that the Old Republic respected the sovereignty of their sector of the galaxy, though. That's why it's called Hutt space. Aside from the incursion to capture the Tantive IV and then to try and retrieve the droids on the surface, the Empire also allowed Tatooine to remain under Hutt control and, at least in the EU novels, Hutt space remains in the galaxy map after the Empire has been overthrown.

Small correction: Tatooine doesn't show up in all 6 movies. It was absent in TESB. my bad.

They were legitimate enough that the Old Republic respected the sovereignty of their sector of the galaxy, though. That's why it's called Hutt space. Aside from the incursion to capture the Tantive IV and then to try and retrieve the droids on the surface, the Empire also allowed Tatooine to remain under Hutt control and, at least in the EU novels, Hutt space remains in the galaxy map after the Empire has been overthrown.

Small correction: Tatooine doesn't show up in all 6 movies. It was absent in TESB. my bad.

I don't think it has anything to do with people respecting the Hutt's sovereignty. I think it's an out of the way dump that nobody cares all that much about. And that is why the scum of the galaxy finds it an attractive place to be.

When the empire wanted those droids, they put their troops on the ground quick and killed anyone they wanted to kill. They didn't ask permission.

They probably only respected the sovereignty for practical reasons of keeping organized crime centralized and because clearing out the Hutts would be gigantic hassle and waste of lives. Doesn't mean the Republic or Jedi should give their laws the time of day. Even if they do that doesn't mean they're not going to undermine the Hutts behind the scenes.

Again, where does the right thing stop? Are they going to go to every planet outside of the Republic and free slaves? It's the right thing, right? Do it for one, do it for all.

This caveat is still hung up on the idea of slaves being property, and freeing one constitutes one person exerting their will on the slave's owner. Here's a neat idea, a Jedi can look a slave in the eye and ask if they want to be freed. That's something they can morally act on.

They were legitimate enough that the Old Republic respected the sovereignty of their sector of the galaxy, though. That's why it's called Hutt space. Aside from the incursion to capture the Tantive IV and then to try and retrieve the droids on the surface, the Empire also allowed Tatooine to remain under Hutt control and, at least in the EU novels, Hutt space remains in the galaxy map after the Empire has been overthrown.

Small correction: Tatooine doesn't show up in all 6 movies. It was absent in TESB. my bad.

I don't think it has anything to do with people respecting the Hutt's sovereignty. I think it's an out of the way dump that nobody cares all that much about. And that is why the scum of the galaxy finds it an attractive place to be.

When the empire wanted those droids, they put their troops on the ground quick and killed anyone they wanted to kill. They didn't ask permission.

While the "being a dump" would apply to Tatooine, the same cannot be said about all the other planets in Hutt space, if the old republic / empire / new republic* didn't respect Hutt sovereignty why would they not care to take over Nal Hutta, for one? IMO, the old republic should have at least cared about Tatooine's slavery which was morally wrong. Another way to see the reason to why the scum of the galaxy gathered in Tatooine would be that it was a safe haven for them. With Hutts in power welcoming them being gangsters themselves. Not just because nobody ever cared to look there.

Erm, Qui-Gon tucking Shimi under his arm and running for the Queen's ship might have been a tad traumatic for little Annie by the time they got to the outskirts of Mos Espa her head would have exploded from Watto's slave implant, spewing Shimi brains all over the place. Like as in sending Anakin into a catatonic state for the rest of his life. She was fine where Qui-Gon left her. At least she was in one piece!

That is hardly an insurmountable problem. How do you think trade among nations has happened here on Earth since the dawn of time? I'm sorry, I just can't accept what you're saying as valid

True, they couldn't buy her freedom there and then, but they could well have come back with the correct currency. Then again, if they had done so, it would beg the question: 'Why should the Jedi free and particular slave, if they free one slave then they might as well go on and save every slave. Why single out individuals?'

It could be classed as stealing though. Stealing something from a thief makes you just as much of a thief as them.

Even if you're returning the stolen item to its original owner? The Underground Railroad would be quite offended by your post.

Yep, some would say you shouldn't steal even if the person you are stealing from attained the item by stealing. Its a classic Robin Hood situation: stealing from a rich man to feed the poor is still unacceptable.

Again, why would they do anything? Attachment is forbidden, and if they save Shmi, where do they stop? Are they just going to jump from system to system freeing every slave in the galaxy?

OK, maybe that's the answer. That they just accept that Anakin's mother will be a slave and that's the way it should be. It would certainly be in line with Jedi who accept the use of a slave army. It would not be in line with the Jedi being the good guys we are told by Lucas that they are. They probably deserved to get cut down.

The ultimate balance to the force, kill all of them

I don't think Lucas totally portrayed the Jedi as the good guys in all the films. In Revenge of The Sith, just listen to what Palpatine says about them. And in the novel, Palpatine criticises their 'stealing' of babies in order to train them as Jedi, simply brandishing them from their parents.